New York Yankees

Source: FanGraphs The Yankees had no business winning this game, and that’s not the first time I’ve written that this season. Maybe it’s just confirmation bias, but this team seems to have a knack for these dramatic, late-inning, come-from-behind wins. They looked helpless for the first eight frames before rallying late and walking away with their first series win in Tropicana Field since April 2010, nine series ago. Let’s recap… Shoot Dem Arrows: A first-inning Travis Hafner single produced the only run the Yankees scored against Matt Moore and various relievers until Fernando Rodney entered the game with a two-run lead in the eighth. He retired the first two men he faced before walking Lyle Overbay in a full count. After he took second on a defensive indifference balk, Brennan Boesch poked a double into the left field corner on an emergency hack, plating one run and putting the tying run in scoring position. Brett Gardner singled him in one batter later. The bases were empty with two outs and two strikes, but the Yankees turned it into a game-tying two-run rally. Incredible. Numero Nuno: In his second big league start, Vidal Nuno held the high-powered Rays to two runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He held them scoreless until the fifth, and frankly I didn’t think he should have started the seventh. Tampa seemed to have his stuff timed the third time through the order. James Loney led the inning off with a single before the bullpen coughed up two runs. Nuno wasn’t great but he was solid. Remember, we’re talking about the team’s seventh starter, maybe eighth depending on how your faith in Michael Pineda. Can’t ask for much more. Death, Then Life By Bullpen: Shawn Kelley and Boone Logan each allowed a hit to the only man they faced in the seventh, contributing to two runs that gave theRays a 3-1 lead. Preston Claiborne came in to bail them out before throwing another scoreless inning, then David Robertson and Ivan Nova first scoreless innings in the ninth and tenth, respectively. Nova made a big mess, loading the bases with one out before escaping the jam with a strikeout and a ground ball. It was an ugly outing, but give him credit for the zero in the run column. Loverbay: It seems like every time the Yankees have one of these big comeback wins, Overbay is in the middle of it. After drawing the two-out walk to spark the game-tying rally in the ninth, he hit the go-ahead solo homer off rapist Josh Lueke in the 11th inning. It was gone off the bat, a no-doubt blast to right. It probably would have landed in the second deck in Yankee Stadium, though I can’t be sure. Either way, it was a huge homer. Huge. Leftovers: Mariano Rivera struck out two for his 18th save (in 18 chances) in the 11th and looked especially nasty. Like four swings and misses out of nine total pitches nasty … underrated moment of the game: Ichiro Suzuki‘s sliding catch of Yunel Escobar’s line drive with one out in the ninth. If the ball drops in, it’s game over since there was a man on second … Robinson Cano and Vernon Wells went 0-for-8 while the rest of the lineup went 9-for-32. Any time those two want to snap out of their slumps is cool with me … Gardner had two hits and a walk and is quietly on fire of late, though he did get thrown stealing second to end the ninth. He needs to stay put so Cano can hit with a man on in a tie game. MLB.com has the box score and video highlights, FanGraphs some other stats, and ESPN the updated standings. Both the Red Sox and Orioles won, so they remain two and four back in the loss column, respectively. The Rays fall to six back. The Yankees will try to finish off their first series sweep at Tropicana Field since April 2008* on Sunday, when CC Sabathia gets the ball against Alex Cobb. * That sweep in April 2008 was only a two-game series. Their last sweep of a three-game series at the Trop came in September 20

“There’s so many big things that happened in this game to give us an opportunity to win.” -Joe Girardi Where to start with this one? There’s something to be said for starting at the beginning, with Vidal Nuno pitching well and the Yankees becoming the first team to win a game against Matt Moore this season. There’s also something to be said for starting at the very end, with Mariano Rivera getting his 18th save on the same night that Fernando Rodney — much like Jim Johnson earlier this week in Baltimore — blew a save in the ninth. There’s also plenty to be said for both Brennan Boesch and Ivan Nova, the two guys who rejoined the Yankees this weekend and without whom the Yankees could not have won. But on this night, let’s start with Lyle Overbay. Let’s start with the guy who was without a job in the final week of spring training, and let’s start with the guy who might not have a role to play a week from now. Overbay’s eighth home run of the season was a game-winning, a two-out shot capped the comeback and put an improbable win in the hands of an unflappable closer. “I want to kind of take it and enjoy it, because I could be sitting at home right now,” Overbay said. Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury started the series of dominoes that brought Overbay to the Yankees, and he’s been a tremendous source of stability for this lineup. He’s three home runs away from matching his home run total for the past two years combined, but Overbay can do the math as well as anyone. Teixeira could be activated on Friday, and it’s hard to know whether the Yankees will have room on their bench for a left-handed first baseman. “I want (Teixeira) back,” Overbay said. “I’ve always said, he’s real good and he’s going to give us a good chance. I just hope that I can coexist with him. We’ll soon find out. You try to think all of these scenarios, and the last time you think of it, something else comes up. Just try to enjoy this, and give my undivided attention to the team right now.” If I had to guess right now, I’d say the Yankees will find a way to keep both Overbay and Teixeira on the roster for at least a little while, but it’s hard to carry three players who are limited to first base and DH, especially when two of the three are left-handed. It’s an awkward situation, but even with Teixeira’s locker just a few feet away here at Tropicana Field, it’s clear that Overbay’s mind is clear and his bat is still potent. Girardi called him a “professional” and a “great teammate” and said “the guys love him around here.” “It’s going to come down to numbers,” Overbay said. “I mean, obviously you’ve got to be doing well, but I think we’re all doing well. It just comes down to where you’re comfortable, where Joe’s comfortable, all that kind of stuff. We’ll see. It will work out either way.” BRENNAN BOESCH Found out last night around 11:30 that he would be replacing Curtis Granderson on the big league roster. He flew out of Scranton at 6:20 this morning, connected in Detroit and got to Tropicana Field just a few hours before first pitch. Boesch said slept fewer than three hours last night. “I did not sleep much,” Boesch said. “But I had a feeling that I was going to get an opportunity there just the way the game was shaking out and the way Joe has been using me in those situations late in the game. (Fernando) Rodney is, for me, one of the toughest pitchers. I was just trying to do anything I could to put a good at-bat on him. I kind of did one of those Pronk swings where I didn’t really follow through too much. It worked out. I’m just happy to contribute.” Boesch’s two-out, RBI double pulled the Yankees within one in the ninth. Then he scored from second on the game-tying single by Brett Gardner. A half inning later, Boesch was out o

Manchester City beat Chelsea, 5-3, in an exhibition at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, giving 39,642 fans an opportunity to see two of the most popular soccer teams in Europe in person. The turnout showed there are plenty of interested, passionate soccer fans in New York, and that's what the Yankees and Manchester City are counting on.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Lyle Overbay made the biggest in a series of big plays Saturday that showed why the New York Yankees are on top in the AL East. View full post on Yahoo! Sports – MLB – New York Yankees News

Some notes… SS Cito Culver was placed on the Low-A Charleston DL for an unknown reason according to Josh Norris. Not sure what’s wrong with him, hence the “unknown reason” part. IF Jose Rosario was called up from Extended Spring Training to replace him on the roster. 1B Luke Murton has been activated off the Triple-A Scranton DL, the team announced. RHP Graham Stoneburner was sent down to Double-A Trenton in a corresponding move. The Triple-A squad was carrying 14 pitchers and needed some position player depth. Check out this Jonathan Lehman article on some of the team’s top position player prospects, with quotes from High-A Tampa hitting coach Marcus Thames. Yes, that Marcus Thames. They Yankees hired him as a coach in January. Triple-A Scranton (11-6 loss to Durham) 2B Corban Joseph: 1-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 K RF Thomas Neal: 2-4, 1 R, 1 K — threw a runner out at second LF Zoilo Almonte: 0-2, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K — man has he been slumping hard of late DH Ronnie Mustelier: 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI — 16 hits in his last 44 at-bats (.364) CF Melky Mesa: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – that’s his first walk since April 14th, and it ain’t like he’s a part-time player either RHP Caleb Cotham: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1 HB, 5/3 GB/FB, 1 E (pickoff) — 40 of 73 pitches were strikes (55%) … he’s been completely overmatched at this level RHP Dellin Betances: 2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GB/FB — 26 of 50 pitches were strikes Double-A Trenton (5-4 win over Bowie) LF Ramon Flores: 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K CF Slade Heathcott: 2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K — got picked off first … 23-for-75 (.307) in his last 19 games, but also 24 strikeouts and just three walks RF Tyler Austin: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI — got picked off first … game-tying infield single in the top of the ninth C J.R. Murphy: 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PB 1B Kyle Roller: 0-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP — drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth with a bases loaded hit-by-pitch RHP Matt Daley: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2/0 GB/FB — only 12 of 26 pitches were strikes (46%), but one of the walks was intentional RHP Tommy Kahnle: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 13 of 16 pitches were strikes High-A Tampa (6-2 loss to Dunedin) CF Mason Williams: 1-4, 1 E (fielding) 2B Angelo Gumbs & C Gary Sanchez: both 0-4, 1 K — Gumbs committed a fielding error DH Rob Refsnyder: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB — only his second homer of the year LF Ben Gamel: 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 CS — ten for his last 21 (.476) with five doubles RHP Shane Greene: 5 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 6/4 GB/FB – 58/9 K/BB in 60.2 innings Low-A Charleston (6-0 win over Greenville) CF Jake Cave: 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K 1B Greg Bird: 0-5, 1 R, 4 K — hitless in his last nine at-bats with eight strikeouts 3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 0-4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K C Peter O’Brien: 2-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB — ten walks in his last nine games after five walks in his first 28 games RHP Cesar Vargas: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 4/2 GB/FB — 46 of 80 pitches were strikes (58%) Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blogHeathcott homers in Trenton win

With the Yankees down to their final out, Lyle Overbay worked a crucial walk to set up a game-tying two-run rally, then homered in the 11th to lift New York to a 4-3 victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Early favorite for MOY?

Roster shuffling is becoming the norm for New York, which on Saturday placed Curtis Granderson on the 15-day disabled list, recalled his presumed replacement -- Brennan Boesch -- from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and claimed reliever David Huff off waivers from the Indians. The new-look lineup will have a shot at redemption Sunday against Alex Cobb.

The Scrap-Iron Yanks did it again today, this time rallying against Fernando “Shot Through The Heart” Rodney in the 9th, and winning it on a solo home run by Lyle Overbay in the 10th. It was Rodney’s fifth blown save of the year (he only had two all of last season). I was in Brooklyn visiting cousins with The Wife this afternoon. By the time we got in the car and headed back uptown the Yanks had a 1-0 lead. The Rays tied it up when we reached the Bronx. Vidal Nuno, man, he was good again. He left in the 7th inning when the Rays strung together several ground balls that gave them a 3-1 lead. Nothing was hit hard, and yeah there was a close play a the plate where the call went against the Yanks but it wasn’t an easy play to call–no great injustice there. What are you gunna do? These things happen. Fernando Rodney, he of the high-octane heater and the Duh Ha-Ha-Ha change-up, got two fast outs in the 9th but he walked Overbay who  advanced to second on Rodney’s first pitch to the pinch-hitter, Brennan Boesch. Well, it was before the pitch as Rodney was called for a balk. Boesch looked overmatched too but an excuse-me swing netted a line drive that managed to stay fair down the left field line. Overbay scored, Boesch had himself a double and he came storming around third when Brett Gardner flicked his bat at an outside change-up and singled to shallow center field. The play at the plate was close with considerable contact but Boesch was safe and the game was tied. The Rays had their chances. Yunel Escobar hit a low line drive to right field with a man in scoring position in the bottom of the 9th but Ichiro! was positioned in the right spot and made a nice catch; the Rays had the bases loaded with one out an inning later but Ivan Nova–fresh off the disabled list–struck out James Loney on an inside slider and got Matt Joyce to ground out to Robinson Cano to end the inning. Josh Lueke walked Cano to start the 10th and then mowed down the next five batters he faced. Then he misplaced a fastball–was supposed to be away but grooved back over the plate–which Overbay cranked for a home run. That run was enough for Mariano Rivera who retired the Rays in order, a vintage performance that was was as dominant and sure as any he’s ever had–could have been 1999, 2002, 2009, you name it: strikeout, ground out, strikeout. And the two strikeouts made the hitters Jose Lobaton and Desmond Jennings look foolish. They were schooled by The Master. Final Score: Yanks 4, Rays 3. [Image Via: Hossien Zare]

The magic continues. With two outs and no one on base in the top of the 9th, the Yankees rallied to score two runs off Fernando Rodney to force extra innings — and Lyle Overbay gave the Yankees the lead for good in the top of the 11th. With the 4-3 victory, the Bombers improved to a Pythagorean-friendly 9-4 in one-run games (2nd-best one-run record in AL). In contrast, the Rays are now 5-11 in one-run games. Beat you to it, Fernando. - Buy Yankees Tickets